Bobcat women fall at HAAC tourney

Friday

Mar 7, 2014 at 11:29 AM

The Peru State women's basketball team tried valiantly, but could not overcome a 15-point halftime deficit as they went down to defeat at the hands of the MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Pioneers 59-43. This was quarterfinal action in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) played Thursday night in Olathe, Kan.

Peru State Sports Information

The Peru State women's basketball team tried valiantly, but could not overcome a 15-point halftime deficit as they went down to defeat at the hands of the MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Pioneers 59-43. This was quarterfinal action in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) played Thursday night in Olathe, Kan.

With the loss, Peru State finished its season 7-23 overall. The 14th-ranked Pioneers, now 25-3, will move on to host the third-seeded Central Methodist team on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Game Action

After MNU hit the first bucket, a Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) rebound led to a bucket by Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) to tie the game at 2-2 with 18:12 remaining in the first 20 minutes. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, that would the only time that they would be tied with the Pioneers and were forced to play catch-up throughout the rest of the game.

A two and a trey by the Pioneers gave MNU a 7-2 advantage before Peterson hit a bucket in the paint after Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) grabbed an offensive rebound. Another bucket by MNU put the Pioneers back up 9-4, but then Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) hit a pair of free throws to make it 9-6 with 14:10 remaining in the first half.

Another two-pointer again gave the Pioneers a five-point lead, but Peterson hit another bucket, this time on an assist from Hess to make it 11-8 at the 12:31 mark.

After that, MNU went on a 9-0 run to jump to a 20-8 lead with 7:24 left in the first stanza. A two-pointer by Sydney Young (Omaha) and later a free throw by Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) got the 'Cats back within single-digits at 20-11 with 5:29 left.

MNU finished the half on a 12 to 6 run and led 32-17 at the break.

The Pioneers built their lead to 21 on two different occasions in the second half at 38-17 and 40-19 at the 13:58 mark. But, the Bobcats did not give up.

Peru State got back within 13 at 43-30 after Tate had hit a three-pointer and Peterson made one of two free throws with just under ten minutes left in the game.

MNU led by 16 at 51-35 with 5:32 to go and Peru State still tried to claw their way back into the contest. A Peterson free throw was followed by a trey by Stuart and suddenly it was 51-39 with 4:43 to go. A Hess assist to Madrid led to another bucket and the 'Cats were back with ten at 51-41 at the 4:03 mark.

The ten-point deficit was the closest Peru State would get and eventually fell 59-43 to MNU.

Team Statistics

The Bobcats had a cool night shooting as they connected on just 16 of 62 for 25.8%, including making only 4 of 22 from behind the arc for 18.2%. At the free throw line, Peru State was 7 of 14 for 50%.

MNU hit 25 of 56 field goals for 44.6%, but only made 1 of 10 three-pointers for 10%. At the charity stripe, the Pioneers were 8 of 11 of 72.7%.

The Pioneers held the advantage in rebounding, 45 to 36. Both teams committed numerous turnovers as Peru State had 22 while MNU had 25. Steals were nearly even as well with the 'Cats having 11 compared to nine of the Pioneers. MNU blocked five shots while Peru State had three.

Individual Statistics

Peterson finished with a double-double to lead the Bobcats. Peterson had ten points and 12 game-high rebounds. Stuart finished with nine points with Madrid adding eight. Hess and Tate each finished with seven.

Madrid added seven rebounds with Hess grabbing five. Hess dished out a team-high four assists. Peterson led the team with three steals while Hess and Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) each had two. Peterson also blocked two shots with Young having the other.

Tate Record Update

With two assists against MNU, Tate increased her career-leading assists mark to 408. Tate also finished with the top spot in career free throws attempted with 572. Also, Tate finished in second with 121 career games played, third in career free throws made with 307, and fourth in career steals with 212.

2014-15 Season

Coach Joan Albury only loses Tate, the lone senior, and will have 13 returners. The Bobcat team will return 82.1% of its scoring for next season. The 13 returners will be joined by several newcomers, including two transfers already on campus and practicing with the team.